Cowboys vs. 49ers: The good, bad and ugly from preseason Week 1
By Peter Panacy
The Good
Well, not a heck of a lot. When quarterback Jimmy Garoppolo missed high on three of his passes and his backup, C.J. Beathard, appeared to have more tipped passes than completions.
There were some good moments, though. So let’s start off on a solid note.
Solomon Thomas
A year removed from a relatively disappointing rookie campaign, defensive end Solomon Thomas made his presence known early, combining for a sack with fellow defensive lineman DeForest Buckner and finishing with three total tackles before exiting with a head injury early on.
Thomas’ injury will be something the Niners will monitor, so one can hope it’s not anything serious.
Rookie Wide Receivers
Dante Pettis and Richie James each had notable contributions during the contest, including Pettis’ 53-yard reception to help set up the Niners’ second score of the game late in the first half.
Pettis did have an early drop, though, and also had some miscommunication with Beathard on an outside route. But after what the Washington product has shown in training camp, it’s good to see him flash this potential in game-time situations.
Meanwhile, James ended up with four grabs for 46 yards, including some nice yards after the catch.
Richie James turns a quick screen pass to the left into a 21-yard gain. His second reception of the game. #49ers
— Joe Fann (@Joe_Fann) August 10, 2018
Oh, and James hauled in the Niners’ game-winning touchdown at the end of the fourth quarter.
Jullian Taylor
With Arik Armstead out, the primary benefactor was fellow rookie, defensive tackle Jullian Taylor.
The seventh-round draftee from 2018 flashed plenty of prowess against both the run and in the pass rush. Overall, Taylor had three tackles, two quarterback hits and a sack. It’s looking as if he’ll be tough to keep off the 49ers’ 53-man roster.
Especially considering he played the entire game.